UPDATE #7: Suspect in San Jacinto shots fired call that forced Lock Down of 5 area schools taken into custody

UPDATE #7

Press release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department:

On Thursday, March 17, 2016, at approximately 1:00 PM, officers from the San Jacinto Police Department received a call of possible shots fired within the 300 block of Idyllwild Drive, in the city of San Jacinto. Officers responded to the area and attempted to contact an adult male later identified as 21 year old, San Jacinto resident, Morrie Rios.

Rios refused to talk to the officers, threatened to harm them, and blow up the apartment. Rios then barricaded himself inside of the location. The Riverside County Sheriffs Department’s SWAT Team responded to assist with the apprehension of Rios. At approximately 6:15 PM, Rios surrendered and exited the residence.

Rios was arrested and booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility for felony resisting arrest.

This is an on-going investigation and anyone with any information regarding this incident please contact Investigator Wortman from the San Jacinto Police Department at 951-791-3400.

 

UPDATE #6

SAN JACINTO – As of 6:00 p.m. Deputy Michael Vasquez, press information officer for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department confirmed this incident, that started as a report of shots fired in the 300 block of Idyllwild Drive in San Jacinto, is continuing and has not yet been brought to a “peaceful resolution,” Vasquez said.

According to Vasquez, the incident, that caused the Lock Down of at least 5 different San Jacinto area schools has evolved into a barricaded suspect investigation. It was unknown as of this report if the barricaded suspect was actually armed or whether any shots had been fired, according to Vasquez.

“Idyllwild Drive has been shut down to all through traffic from Tahquitz Street to Bonita Avenue, while sheriff’s officials continue their investigation, Vasquez said.

While not much information was readily available in this ongoing and still unfolding incident, Vasquez confirmed the sheriff’s department was actively working on a barricaded suspect incident at an apartment complex in the 300 block of Idyllwild Drive, the same area where the original shots fired call came from.

Vasquez said many apartments and homes around the area had been evacuated, as the department continues their investigation. Vasquez also confirmed a mobile command center had been brought to the area and the department’s Emergency Services Team was at the scene of the incident.

 

ORIGINAL STORY

SAN JACINTO – A 911 report of shots fired earlier today, Mar. 17, led to at least five or more schools being placed on Lock Down, while deputies continue to search for possible suspects.

As of about 2:15 p.m., deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s San Jacinto Police Station had detained one adult male who was possibly involved in the incident, according to Mike Vasquez, public information officer for the sheriff’s department.

The incident began at about 1:10 p.m. when deputies were dispatched to a shots fired call in the 300 block of Idyllwild Drive, in the city of San Jacinto. Multiple deputies converged on the area and immediately detained a subject for further investigation, Vasquez said.

As the investigation continued a sheriff’s helicopter circled the area, searching for additional potential suspects.

The person who was still being detained as of this report has not been identified, pending further investigation. “We still have not confirmed if the man deputies are detaining was involved, if any shots were fired or if anyone else was involved in this incident,” Vasquez stated.

Deputy Vasquez confirmed the sheriff’s department had requested the San Jacinto Academy be placed on Lock Down during the department’s ongoing investigation, however several other area schools activated their Lock Down protocols.

At about 3:45 p.m., Dawn Lawrence, communications officer for the San Jacinto Unified School District, confirmed at least four additional SJUSD schools had activated their Lock Down or Shelter in Place protocols.

According to Lawrence, the schools affected are San Jacinto High School, Monte Vista Middle School, San Jacinto Elementary and San Jacinto Pre-School.

Lawrence explained that during Lock Down protocols, all students are kept inside their classrooms, with their doors locked, their lights off and their blinds closed.

As of this report, there had been no reported incidents that directly affected any schools within the school district and Lawrence assured all parents of students within the school district were safe and accounted for.

Lawrence was not able to provide any further information regarding how long the Lock Downs would continue to affect students or if the students would be released at their designated dismissal times.

 

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

 

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